Lower Costs, More Cures
As the only pharmacist currently serving in Congress, one of my top priorities has always been lowering the costs of prescription drugs. I'm very proud that over the past year we have made strong, bipartisan progress on this in the Energy and Commerce Committee. H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act contains many of our bipartisan proposals that would lower prescription drug costs while encouraging innovation of new cures. 

Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi decided to bypass the bipartisan proposals and introduce her own partisan legislation, H.R. 3. It has been estimated that H.R. 3 could lead to as many as 100 fewer drugs entering the United States market over the next decade. This legislation could put up a roadblock for the cure to ALS, Alzheimer's or cancer. Blocking even one new cure is too many. 

I spoke on the House floor this week to highlight the critical need to support legislation that lowers drug costs while supporting cures for our friends and neighbors. Click here to see my speech. 


Prescription drug pricing isn't a Republican or Democratic issue. This is an American issue. We have to solve it together and it needs to be done in a bipartisan fashion. Unfortunately, H.R. 3 puts politics over people. Rest assured, I will continue to fight for H.R. 19 and lower prescription drug costs. 

In this week's Buddy's Briefing, I explain the differences between H.R. 19 and H.R. 3. Click here to see this episode. 


Articles of Impeachment
This week, House Democrats introduced articles of impeachment against President Trump and Democrats on the Judiciary Committee voted to approve them. 

Since day one, Democrats have refused to accept the fact that Donald J. Trump is President of the United States. Washington Democrats have spent years on empty investigations and still have not produced substantial facts that warrant impeachment. However, Speaker Pelosi and her liberal allies have decided to move forward with articles of impeachment anyways in an attempt to overturn the 2016 election. 

This witch hunt will go down as a shameful stain on our history.

from our nation's capitol CCXLV
Monday, December 9, 2019:  I’m on beautiful Jekyll Island in Glynn County bright and early this morning as I am honored to be a keynote speaker at the 82nd Annual Georgia Farm Bureau convention being held at the Jekyll Island Convention Center.  According to the University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, agriculture contributes approximately $73.3 billion annually to Georgia’s economy with one in seven Georgians working in agriculture, forestry or related fields. 

Rep. Carter delivers remarks at the Georgia Farm Bureau Convention 
Needless to say, agriculture is still king in Georgia.  Afterwards, I continue heading south to the Jacksonville airport for my flight back to Washington.  Once back at the Capitol, I meet with staff for our weekly briefing before doing an on-camera interview with WTOC TV in Savannah to discuss the Energy and Commerce Innovation Showcase that is being held in Washington this week.  Afterwards, I have an on-camera interview with WSAV TV in Savannah to discuss the same subject matter.  Next, I meet with representatives from Oglethorpe Power and Green Power EMC from Georgia who I have invited to Washington this week to participate in the Showcase. 

Rep. Carter meeting with Oglethorpe Power and Green Power EMC
Oglethorpe Power is one of 38 EMC’s in the State of Georgia that uses Green Power EMC to identify, screen, analyze and negotiate power purchase agreements with Georgia based renewable resource providers.  Next, I head to our weekly Whip Team meeting before heading to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week.

Tuesday, December 10, 2019:  I’m still in Washington this morning but, with the help of my District Director, Brooke Childers, and FaceTime, I’m able to surprise one of our fine students in the District, Nickolas Froude from Benedictine Military Academy in Savannah, with the news that he has received a nomination to the United States Naval Academy.  Here’s how we pulled it off - Brooke is at Benedictine this morning and finds Nickolas in his AP English class.  In front of his classmates and, unbeknownst to Nikolas, with his mother and grandfather outside the classroom, I FaceTime Brooke who enters the classroom and calls Nickolas up to the front where I break the good news to him in front of his classmates and family.  Needless to say, he is one surprised and happy young man.  Some parts of this job are just too much fun! Congratulations, Nickolas!  Next, I head to our weekly GOP Conference meeting before heading to an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Health Subcommittee hearing on the Democrat’s Medicare for All proposal.  A link to my questions can be found here

Rep. Carter with the host of Talk to Your Pharmacist Podcast
Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day before heading off of Capitol Hill to record a Stop Opioid Silence (SOS) Public Service Announcement (PSA).  Once back at the Capitol, I head to the Cannon Rotunda where I have an on-camera interview with WSAV TV in Savannah to discuss the impeachment hearing and afterwards head to my office where I have a podcast interview with Talk to Your Pharmacist, hosted by Hillary Blackburn, daughter-in-law of my good friend Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).  A link to that podcast can be found here.  Our second vote series of the day is next and afterwards I remain in the House Chamber and pay tribute to the memory of longtime WTOC TV journalist Craig Harney who passed last week.  A link to my tribute can be found here.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019:  After a meeting in my office with staff and representatives from the agriculture industry to discuss the United States, Mexico and Canada Agreement (USMCA) that is in its final stages, I head to a meeting of members of the E&C Committee where we discuss HR 3, Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat’s partisan legislation that could lead to as many as 100 fewer drugs entering the US market over the next decade.  After heading to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day, I head to a Whip member meeting where we hear from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials who are working on new regulations for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  Next, I head to a Select Committee on Climate Change hearing on creating a more resilient community.  A link to my questions can be found here.  After a conference call in my office with a constituent to discuss an idea he has, I head back to the House Chamber for our second vote series of the day.  Later in the evening, I lead a special order in the House Chamber on the innovation killing HR 3 and the benefits of our alternative legislation, HR 19, that will lower drug costs while assuring more cures in the future.  A link to some of my comments can be found here.

Thursday, December 12, 2019:  I’m at the White House bright and early this morning to assist constituents in gaining access.  While it is always beautiful, at this time of year while adorned with Christmas decorations, the White House is spectacular.  Once back at the Capitol, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Cameron Walters, the young sailor from Richmond Hill in Bryan County who was killed in the terrorist attack at Pensacola Naval Air Station last Friday.  A link to my tribute can be found here.  Afterwards, I remain in the House Chamber and participate in the rule debate on HR 3.  A link to my comments can be found here

Rep. Carter meeting with Valisure
After returning to my office, I meet with representatives from Valisure to learn about how they incorporate quality ingredient testing in their pharmacy dispensing system, before meeting with representatives from the American Conservation Coalition to discuss climate change.  After a conference call with a constituent, I meet with Jorge Viso, President of the American Pilots’ Association, to discuss the great work being done by our bar pilots in Brunswick and Savannah.  Staying in my office, I film this week’s Buddy’s Briefings before heading to the House Chamber for our last vote series of the week.  Afterwards, I remain in the House Chamber as I join my colleagues in a moment of silence to honor those killed at the Pensacola Naval Air Station last week.  A link to that tribute can be found here.

Friday, December 13, 2019:  Although I got home less than 10 hours ago, I’m up bright and early and headed to St. Simons Island in Glynn County for the Brunswick/Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce Grits and Issues breakfast where I join my state colleagues Sen. William Ligon, Rep. Jeff Jones and Rep. Don Hogan in discussing state and federal issues. 

Rep. Carter at the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce Grits and Issues Breakfast
Afterwards, I stay in Glynn County and head to Brunswick where I visit the LCP Superfund site for an update of the progress of the project and a tour of the area.  Next, I head to LobePro located in the Brunswick/Glynn industrial park, a local company that is a world leader in the rotary lobe pump manufacturing business, to tour their impressive facility and discuss tariff issues. 

Rep. Carter at LobePro
My final stop in Brunswick is at the Brunswick airport where, along with members of my district staff, I meet with VA Dublin Director David Whitmer to discuss the improvements made at the Dublin VA Hospital as well as plans for a new VA facility in Brunswick.

VOTES IN THE HOUSE THIS WEEK
Click here for this week's vote sheet in the House.

 
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